Gaming has become a lucrative business in recent years. What was once a fun hobby has now evolved into a booming enterprise, with many avenues to make money.
Since gaming is an activity that can be done from basically anywhere, even work from home moms can get in on that action.
Today, we will be discussing the most practical ways to earn money while playing games. Do note, that this is a rather unstable career path. While there is the potential for great gains, it’s best to think of it as a side job until you are confident in pursuing it as a full-time career. Gaming is a very competitive market, but it’s also relatively fun and easy with the right mindset.
Streamer
You’d be surprised at the variety of gamers nowadays. While back then, they may be stereotyped as primarily male teenagers, there have been so many kinds of video game content creators in the last decade. While male teens are still dominant, streamers now range from young women such as Pokimane to 60-year-old grandmas such as TacticalGramma.
The most popular streaming platforms for gamer communities are YouTube and Twitch. Here are a few things to consider if you pursue streaming as a career choice. Ask your children, a tech-savvy friend, or for assistance if you want some hands-on technical help:
Fast Internet Connection
A fast internet connection is a requirement for streamers. Without a stable internet connection, people won’t tune into your streams because the video feed will come off as incredibly choppy. Not to mention, if you stream online games, you need a fast internet connection to keep up with other players on the server.
Good Equipment
In addition to a fast internet connection, you need the proper gaming rig and recording devices. Nobody will tune into a stream if the camera is blurry or the voice sounds like HAL 9000 due to a bad mic. The checklist should be:
- Mid-to-High Performance PC, depending on the games you play
- HD Webcam
- High-Quality Microphone
- Headphones
- Soundproofed Space
- Streaming Software (OBS is the best choice)
- Good Lighting Setup
Not Camera Shy
Streamers are entertainers, first and foremost. While playing video games, you have to look natural, regardless of your skill. Engage with the chat and always thank those who give any donations or subs. Most importantly, don’t fake it. It’s important to play games that you enjoy and to be honest with your viewers, as that is what builds a strong fanbase.
As a final note, there is a practice called “vtubing” that has become popular recently. If you happen to be an anime fan, becoming a vtuber could help you build a strong fanbase from the get-go with an appealing virtual avatar. It’s also of note that Vtuber agencies exist and they often hire entertaining streamers and provide them with potentially stable employment.
Let’s Player
For those who aren’t too comfortable with the idea of a live setup, but still want to entertain people with video games, let’s plays are a great option. Let’s Players are content creators primarily focused on recording themselves playing video games (without an audience) and then uploading the lets plays to their channel.
Let’s Play video content allows you to have more control over the end product. You can edit out long, boring stretches of your playthrough, make funny edits to entertain viewers, and not have to worry about thanking your subs every other minute.
Of course, let’s play and streaming are not mutually exclusive. You could easily stream games and then edit down an archived version for your let’s play YouTube channel as an additional form of income.
Online Marketplaces
If you’re looking to exercise your saleslady skills, then online marketplaces are a great avenue for that. Online marketplaces allow gamers to trade in-game items with real currency. If you play a multiplayer game religiously and are sitting on a stockpile of valuable cosmetics, for example, it’s a good idea to sell them for monetary gain.
In addition to cosmetic items, you could also sell your skills on the online marketplace. Some busy gamers hire people to farm on their accounts so that their characters get better faster, even while they aren’t playing. This is particularly popular for MMORPGs such as World of Warcraft and mobile games such as Growtopia.
There are also some murmurs about potential earnings with blockchain-based games, but that industry is relatively young and unstable. Take care and do your research on blockchain technology to see if you’re up for that path.
Video Game Essays
If you are a writer with a deep passion for video games, then video game essays could be the niche for you. Video game essays are much like movie critiques and analysis videos. Your goal is to inform the viewer of why you love (or hate) a particular video game and record clips of it that you use as a background for the video.
Video game essays are a lucrative niche if you play the algorithm right. People love to learn new things about media that they are passionate about, and video game essayists provide that service. YouTubers such as Super Eyepatch Wolf and Jacob Geller have amassed huge and loyal fanbases with their unique approach to video game content creation.
Conclusion
Gaming is a really fun hobby and a potentially lucrative career. However, you must never let gaming become a chore. A lot of people who pursue gaming as a career can feel a lot of burnout due to the lack of immediate success. As always, start small and build your portfolio as a gaming professional, but don’t fully commit until you are confident in your abilities. That confidence may come sooner than you think.
If you want to learn about other remote work opportunities, check out more articles on the subject here.
